Author

McKenna Horsley

McKenna Horsley

McKenna Horsley covers state politics for the Kentucky Lantern. She previously worked for newspapers in Huntington, West Virginia, and Frankfort, Kentucky. She is from northeastern Kentucky.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Kentucky school district posts against Amendment 2 raise questions about political influence

By: - August 13, 2024

One Kentucky public school district is speaking against a proposed constitutional amendment that would affect school funding — raising questions about what school districts can say on political issues.? Pulaski County Schools, a district seated around Somerset with more than 7,500 students, shared a message advocating against Amendment 2 on its official Facebook page Friday. […]

Kentucky prosecutor says new law banning child sex dolls could strengthen future criminal cases

By: - August 12, 2024

A new Kentucky law that makes it a felony to own a child sex doll could strengthen cases against predators, a local prosecutor says.??? Rob Sanders, the commonwealth’s attorney for Kenton County, said in a Monday press conference the law might have changed the outcome of a court case involving the shipment of child sex […]

‘She’s ready to lead:’ Kentucky Democrats quickly line up behind Kamala Harris

By: , and - July 23, 2024

In the hours after President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign, Brian Clardy, historian and Kentucky delegate to the 2020 Democratic National Convention, worried that a divisive fight for the nomination could spell electoral disaster for Democrats in November. “Democrats cannot afford to go into this thing split. They just cannot afford to do it. […]

Coleman will not attend Fancy Farm, conflicts with event supporting cancer survivors

By: - July 22, 2024

Democratic Lt. Gov. Jaqueline Coleman will not be attending the Fancy Farm Picnic because she will be attending an event to support cancer survivors — a cause she says is personal to her because of a recent medical diagnosis.? The Graves County church picnic has become a Kentucky politics highlight over its decades-long history. Gov. […]

Jacqueline Coleman says she’s ‘ready’ to become governor should Beshear get vice president nod

By: - July 22, 2024

LOUISVILLE — Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman told reporters Monday that her job is to be ready to lead Kentucky should Gov. Andy Beshear ascend to a higher office.? Beshear is being floated as a possible running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now seeking the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden ended […]

Beshear on national TV endorses Harris, deflects questions about joining her ticket

By: - July 22, 2024

Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear offered his full endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in a national TV interview Monday morning and fielded questions about his interest in becoming her running mate.? Throughout his comments on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Beshear contrasted Harris with the GOP ticket —?former Republican President Donald Trump and newly minted running […]

Morgan McGarvey

Kentucky’s Rep. McGarvey joins calls for new nominee as Biden camp vows to stay the course

By: , and - July 19, 2024

WASHINGTON — Kentucky’s lone Democrat in the U.S. Congress joined nine of his Democratic colleagues Friday in calling on President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid, the most in a single day since a poor debate performance shook confidence in his ability to win November’s election. U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, said Democrats need […]

Beshear will not attend Aug. 3 Fancy Farm Picnic, annual West Kentucky political tradition

By: - July 19, 2024

Organizers of the annual church fundraiser held in Graves County said in a Friday afternoon email that the governor had said he is not attending the August event and “no reason was given.”? Fancy Farm organizers added that Republican State Auditor Allison Ball will not attend due to a conflict with a wedding that weekend.? […]

Kentuckian Hadley Duvall in Biden abortion ad says Trump and Vance ‘don’t care about women’

By: - July 18, 2024

A Kentucky woman who talked about abortion in a pivotal campaign ad for Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear last year is now up on airwaves supporting President Joe Biden on the same issue. Hadley Duvall, an Owensboro native who is now in her early 20s, told the Kentucky Lantern last year that she began sharing her […]

U.S. appeals court agrees to block central part of new Title IX gender rules for schools

By: - July 18, 2024

A federal appellate court has upheld blocking central parts of new Title IX rules from the Biden administration and granted an expedited hearing in October.? A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed Wednesday to block the rules from taking effect Aug. 1, shortly before most schools begin their academic year. […]

University president defends multicultural religious, social, and academic groups on campus

By: - July 16, 2024

FRANKFORT — For almost 90 minutes on Tuesday, Kentucky lawmakers who tried to ban diversity, equity and inclusion in Kentucky’s colleges were told why such programs were needed in higher education. Yet, one legislator said DEI programs “segregate” students.? Among presenters were two university presidents — Northern Kentucky University President Cady Short-Thompson and Morehead State […]

Jefferson County schools officials present district information to Kentucky legislative task force

By: - July 15, 2024

Jefferson County Public Schools officials appeared Monday before a new legislative task force that will examine the governance of Kentucky’s largest school district.? Led by Marty Pollio, the district’s superintendent, the officials laid out information about the district’s enrollment, financial records, governance structure and more to the Efficient & Effective School District Governance Task Force. […]